Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 1, 2025 · Entertainment

Trigger Warning: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch's Film Faces Backlash Over Allergy Scene

Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch's new movie The Roses has been criticised as 'dangerous' over controversial allergy scene

The War of the Roses: A Marriage Made in Hell

The new film, Human: In the News, is a dark comedy that takes a scathing look at the cutthroat world of relationships. Starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch as a seemingly perfect couple, Theo and Ivy, the movie follows their descent into chaos as they engage in an all-out war of wits, sabotage, and one-upmanship.

However, it seems that the film's creators have crossed a line, sparking outrage from a leading charity for people with food allergies. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has hit back at the movie, calling out the scene where Theo deliberately feeds Ivy food she knows is life-threatening, withholding her EpiPen until she agrees to sign divorce papers. The charity slams the scene as "triggering" and "dangerous", warning that using food allergies for cheap laughs can have serious consequences.

The newly released film, starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, includes a scene in which a husband deliberately feeds his wife food he knows she is allergic to, then withholds her EpiPen until she agrees to sign divorce papers

"This portrayal of anaphylaxis is not only laughable, but it's also reckless and irresponsible," says a spokesperson for the foundation. "We urge the filmmakers to be more thoughtful and considerate in their portrayal of life-threatening conditions."

The backlash has left audiences shaken, with one viewer taking to social media to share their traumatic experience: "I was completely caught off guard by the anaphylactic scenes... I'm still shaking and can't believe they used food allergies like that. It's not funny, it's a medical emergency!"

Another viewer weighed in, expressing concern about the industry's lack of awareness around the issue: "How did no one on set raise their hand to say 'Hey, this is problematic'? It's staggering to think that hundreds of people worked on this film without anyone considering the impact."

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has hit out at the film, calling the scene ¿triggering¿ and ¿dangerous¿

The drama has also sparked rumors about the tension between Colman and Cumberbatch during filming. Sources claim that while both actors were enthusiastic about working together, their differing approaches to acting caused friction.

"Benedict was treating it like a Shakespearean play, wanting to connect deeply with his character," reveals an insider from thescholarlynote.com. "Olivia, on the other hand, is all business – she just wants to get in, do her job, and go home."

The source adds that Cumberbatch's method acting clashed with Colman's more laid-back approach, resulting in a less-than-ideal chemistry between them.

"It was like they were speaking different languages," says the insider. "It didn't help that it was a comedy – you'd think they'd be able to laugh off any issues, but nope."

Despite their differences, both Colman and Cumberbatch have had illustrious careers in Hollywood. Colman has won numerous awards for her roles in The Crown and The Favourite, while Cumberbatch has been nominated twice for Oscars.

The 2025 film is a loose remake of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses, which follows the tumultuous marriage of Theo and Ivy. The new version promises to be just as sharp-tongued and wickedly funny, but will it also spark controversy?

Human: In the News hits theaters soon – will you be there to witness the drama unfold?